Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 2/20/16

CORPORATE ED REFORM

BATS ARE ASKING EVERYONE TO STOP THE CONFIRMATION OF JOHN KING: Badass Teachers Association

Badass Teachers Association: BATs LEGISLATIVE TEAM WEEKLY UPDATE FEDERAL NEWSBATS ARE ASKING EVERYONE TO STOP THE CONFIRMATION OF JOHN KING.  HE WAS HORRIBLE FOR NEW YORK AND HE WILL BE HORRIBLE FOR THE NATION!CALL SENATOR ALEXANDER AND TELL HIM TO SAY NO TO JOHN KING  202-224-4944. Here are some talking points1. John King disenfranchised and marginalized the voices of parents in New York by calli

by mike simpson / 2h 

BATs WALL OF SOLIDARITY! BATs RUNNING FOR LOCAL AND STATE UNION OFFICE! - Badass Teachers Association

Badass Teachers Association: BATs WALL OF SOLIDARITY! BATs RUNNING FOR LOCAL AND STATE UNION OFFICE! The Badass Teachers Association encourages our members to be an important and active participant in their local, state, and national unions.  We encourage our members to run for office so that unions represent rank and file members, are run using a true democratic system, exist as entities that are

by mike simpson / 3h 

Is Co-Opted Opt Out Lurking in Your State? – Save Maine Schools

Is Co-Opted Opt Out Lurking in Your State? – Save Maine Schools: Is Co-Opted Opt Out Lurking in Your State?Lisa Nielsen, author of the blog “The Innovative Educator,” hopes that technology will mean the end of teaching as we know it.“Why deny that the traditional role of the teacher is needed less and less? Technology can do much of what teachers do and better….That teachers have intimate relation

by mike simpson / 4h 

Do Schools Segregate Black Kids By Putting Them in Special Ed. Classes? » Your Black Education

Do Schools Segregate Black Kids By Putting Them in Special Ed. Classes? » Your Black Education » Resources for Parents and Educators: Do Schools Segregate Black Kids By Putting Them in Special Ed. Classes?For years, Black parents have been suspicious of schools and staff who try to place their children in special education programs, with much of the Black community believing that placement in a sp

by mike simpson / 5h 

Cooper Introduces Bill to Expand Funding for After-School Programs - Assemblymember Jim Cooper Representing the 9th California Assembly District

Cooper Introduces Bill to Expand Funding for After-School Programs - Assemblymember Jim Cooper Representing the 9th California Assembly District: Cooper Introduces Bill to Expand Funding for After-School ProgramsSACRAMENTO – Today, Assemblymember Jim Cooper (D-Elk Grove) introduced Assembly Bill 2663. The bill will increase funding to California’s After School Education and Safety program for low-

by mike simpson / 6h 

CURMUDGUCATION: Awful Mean Naughty Journalism

CURMUDGUCATION: Awful Mean Naughty Journalism: Awful Mean Naughty Journalism Caroline Bermudez is senior writer and press secretary at Education Post, Peter Cunningham's  pro-reform rapid response war room created to help Tell the Reformsters' Story. And this week Bermudez took to Real Clear Education to complain that "Uninformed, Irresponsible Journalism Is Killing Needed Education Reform.&q

by mike simpson / 7h 

What's the Matter with Detroit Schools? Pt I - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher

What's the Matter with Detroit Schools? Pt I - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher: What's the Matter with Detroit Schools? Pt I Three years ago, in February of 2013, I spent five days at a conference around social justice, in Detroit. I wrote the next three blogs on what I saw and what I learned. I went back and re-read them today, in light of the recent events in Detroit. Have thi

by mike simpson / 7h 

Louisiana Educator: Voucher School Losers Win on Getting a Better Education

Louisiana Educator: Voucher School Losers Win on Getting a Better Education: Voucher School Losers Win on Getting a Better EducationDesperate to save the sub-standard voucher program that wastes millions of taxpayer dollars, John White's crack public relations specialists have put out a highly misleading press release claiming that the voucher students are really improving more than regular public

by mike simpson / 7h 

My Exchange with ACT’s Senior Director of Media and Public Relations | deutsch29

My Exchange with ACT’s Senior Director of Media and Public Relations | deutsch29: My Exchange with ACT’s Senior Director of Media and Public RelationsOn February 17, 2016, I wrote a post about ACT’s College and Career Readiness Standards, and I ended with a couple of questions that I had for ACT’s Senior Director of Media and Public Relations, Ed Colby, one of which was as follows:Edward, how abou

by mike simpson / 7h 

Schools Matter: Judge Refuses to Stop Unfair and Unreliable Value Added System

Schools Matter: Judge Refuses to Stop Unfair and Unreliable Value Added System: Judge Refuses to Stop Unfair and Unreliable Value Added System Not in the bolded section of this news story, the federal judge notes that the teachers have a strong case against the unreliable nature of the the Tennessee VAM system known as TVAAS.  He just refuses to do anything about it.....TVAAS is a complex algorith

by mike simpson / 7h 

Some Characteristics Of Fascism in the early to mid 20th Century: Hmmmmm? | DCGEducator: Doing The Right Thing

Some Characteristics Of Fascism in the early to mid 20th Century: Hmmmmm? | DCGEducator: Doing The Right Thing: Some Characteristics Of Fascism in the early to mid 20th Century: Hmmmmm? If these ring any bells here in the early 21st century , it surely must be purely coincidence…or not!1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism – Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans,

by mike simpson / 7h 

John King is trying to repair the Obama administration’s frayed relationship with teachers - The Washington Post

John King is trying to repair the Obama administration’s frayed relationship with teachers - The Washington Post: John King is trying to repair the Obama administration’s frayed relationship with teachersIn one of his first major speeches as acting U.S. secretary of education, John King apologized to teachers for the role that the federal government has played in creating a climate in which teache

by mike simpson / 7h 

State's top educator tours Livermore charter schools accused of mismanagement | abc7news.com

State's top educator tours Livermore charter schools accused of mismanagement | abc7news.com: STATE'S TOP EDUCATOR TOURS LIVERMORE CHARTER SCHOOLS ACCUSED OF MISMANAGEMENTLIVERMORE, Calif. (KGO) --Two schools in Livermore are known for their high performance, but district and city officials are accusing the corporation that runs them of mismanagement.The allegations have caught the attention of th

by mike simpson / 8h 

Wendy Lecker: Removing humans from education - StamfordAdvocate

Wendy Lecker: Removing humans from education - StamfordAdvocate: Wendy Lecker: Removing humans from education The late education commentator Gerald Bracey once observed that technology “permits us now to do in nanoseconds things we shouldn’t be doing at all.” Nowhere is this observation more true than in the agenda of Connecticut’s superintendents’ association, CAPSS; specifically its promotion of

by mike simpson / 8h 

No Pineapple Left Behind Review Impressions :: ZAM

No Pineapple Left Behind Review Impressions :: ZAM: No Pineapple Left Behind Review ImpressionsEducation on educationSeth Alter was a teacher once. For six months. The experience left him so disillusioned that he quit the system entirely. Now, he’s made a game about it. The Boston-based game developer has made a small name for himself in the indie game world for making political and sociological s

by mike simpson / 8h 

Why England is in the ‘guard’s van’ of school reform | News

Why England is in the ‘guard’s van’ of school reform | News: Why England is in the ‘guard’s van’ of school reform Scotland’s education system may be creaking, but England’s is already broken. Its free-school model isn’t working and its business capital view is on the runBritain has a teacher recruitment crisis. But it is not truly British. The complaint is much more spectacular in England. In Scot

by mike simpson / 8h 

Who Will Be Public Education’s Nixon? | The Merrow Report

Who Will Be Public Education’s Nixon? | The Merrow Report: Who Will Be Public Education’s Nixon?For decades, the United States and “Red China” had minimal contact.  Communist China was the third rail of politics and no politician could afford to appear to be ‘soft on Communism.’ After all, in the 1950’s the careers and lives of hundreds of people were destroyed because they were accused of having

by mike simpson / 8h 

What Went Wrong With Teach For America | The Progressive

What Went Wrong With Teach For America | The Progressive: "What Went Wrong With Teach For America"What Went Wrong With Teach For AmericaPeter GreenePhoto by Karlsson/FlickrTeach for America is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Twenty-five years may not seem like much, but TFA  has changed a great deal since Wendy Kopp first turned her Princeton paper into a real organization, and those c

by mike simpson / 9h 

Parents alarmed after hearing about California student data transfer | The Sacramento Bee

Parents alarmed after hearing about California student data transfer | The Sacramento Bee: Parents alarmed after hearing about California student data transfer Parents across California have grown concerned after learning that a Sacramento-based federal judge ordered the state Department of Education to release sensitive records for more than 10 million schoolchildren to lawyers and consultants re

by mike simpson / 9h 

Charter School Champion Hates Bernie Sanders, Prefers Hillary Clinton | gadflyonthewallblog

Charter School Champion Hates Bernie Sanders, Prefers Hillary Clinton | gadflyonthewallblog: Charter School Champion Hates Bernie Sanders, Prefers Hillary ClintonBernie Sanders doesn’t like charter schools enough.To me that’s an endorsement.But to Shavar Jeffries, it’s a condemnation.Jeffries took to the pages of the New York Daily News to decry Sanders position and champion Hillary Clinton’s.Jeff

by mike simpson / 9h 

YESTERDAY

Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 2/19/16

CORPORATE ED REFORMSleeping Giant of Education Politics - Parents - Are Awake and RebellingSleeping Giant of Education Politics - Parents - Are Awake and Rebelling: Sleeping Giant of Education Politics - Parents - Are Awake and RebellingA New York Times frontpage headline last Aug. 13, 2015 stated,"20 percent of State Students Opted Out of Tests in Sign of a Rising Revolt."This grassroot

by mike simpson / 1d 

BATS ARE ASKING EVERYONE TO STOP THE CONFIRMATION OF JOHN KING: Badass Teachers Association

Badass Teachers Association:

BATs LEGISLATIVE TEAM WEEKLY UPDATE

 FEDERAL NEWS


BATS ARE ASKING EVERYONE TO STOP THE CONFIRMATION OF JOHN KING.  HE WAS HORRIBLE FOR NEW YORK AND HE WILL BE HORRIBLE FOR THE NATION!


CALL SENATOR ALEXANDER AND TELL HIM TO SAY NO TO JOHN KING  202-224-4944. Here are some talking points


1. John King disenfranchised and marginalized the voices of parents in New York by calling them “special interests groups. “ http://dianeravitch.net/2013/10/14/parent-groups-in-new-york-call-for-commissioner-john-king-to-resign/
2. When John King resigned from New York parents reacted http://www.nysape.org/john-king-resigns-parents--educators-call-for-a-new-direction-from-the-regents-and-demand-no-interference-from-governor-cuomo.html
3. When President Obama made John King Acting Secretary New York Parents were warn of the impending catastrophe http://dianeravitch.net/2015/10/02/nysape-john-king-was-a-catastrophe-in-new-york/
4. Due to his refusal to listen to parents in New York State over 240,000 parents lost trust in the education system and refused testing for their children. http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2015/12/8586029/group-calls-parents-opt-out-local-assessments
5. The New York State United Teachers Association called a No Confidence vote for King in 2014 http://www.nysut.org/news/2014/april/ra-2014/nysut-votes-no-confidence-in-king-calls-for-his-removal
6. His display in the hearings of Chief Information Officer Danny Harris only solidifies King's indifference and incompetence to oversee our children’s education. https://deutsch29.wordpress.com/2016/02/08/more-transcribed-interactions-from-usdoe-cio-danny-harris-hearing/ and here https://deutsch29.wordpress.com/2016/02/08/investigation-of-usdoe-cio-danny-harris-video-and-transcribed-excerpts/

SEND OUR ACTION NETWORK LETTER WHICH HAS HAD OVER 1000 SENT TO SAY NO TO KING.   https://actionnetwork.org/letters/say-no-to-john-king-as-us-secretary-of-education?source=direct_link&referrer=badass-teachers-association


ALSO CHECK OUT THE BATS ELECTION SCORE CARD HERE http://badassteachers.blogspot.com/2016/01/bat-election-scorecard-common-core.html

STATE NEWS click here Badass Teachers Association:

EVERYONE  STOP THE CONFIRMATION OF JOHN KING

BATs WALL OF SOLIDARITY! BATs RUNNING FOR LOCAL AND STATE UNION OFFICE! - Badass Teachers Association

Badass Teachers Association:

BATs WALL OF SOLIDARITY! 
BATs RUNNING FOR LOCAL AND STATE UNION OFFICE!

 The Badass Teachers Association encourages our members to be an important and active participant in their local, state, and national unions.  We encourage our members to run for office so that unions represent rank and file members, are run using a true democratic system, exist as entities that are about great education for all children, and support a framework for social justice.   

BATs would like to offer a powerful message of solidarity to BATs around the country who are running for union office and being proactive members of their local and state unions.   If you are running for a local or state union office, and are involved and engaged in the BAT network, please email us your election platform so that we can add it to our BAT  Wall of Solidarity. You can email your platform to our Executive Director Marla Kilfoyle and Asst. Executive Director Melissa Tomlinson atcontact.BATmanager@gmail.com   We wish you luck and stand with you in a united vision of great schools, healthy workplaces, and social justice. 

We offer BAT Solidarity to the following members who are running for local and/or state offices.

Broward Teachers Union-Florida

Green Apple BATs in Broward

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

ANNA FUSCO - PRESIDENT

TERRY PREUSS - VICE PRESIDENT

LYDELL MORELAND - VICE PRES. OF ESPs

CHRISTOPER TOWNLEY - TREASURER

ROOSEVELT MCCLARY - SECRETARY

EXECUTIVE BOARD 

ANNA BURGESS

ED FARREL

ROJESTERMAN FARRIS

NYMPHA GIRAD

JOSHUA JAMIESON

KENNY MINCHEW

SANDY NUNEZ

LILIAN RUIDO

HANK SERGEY

SHELLY SOFFER

BETTY WARREN

WENDY VAZQUEZ

LINDA ZUNIGA

Election Platform:   https://docs.google.com/document/d/14qG2-VfodYJHd4Y5u4KRL1KsjT-or0C5CF_MRJ3q7U8/pub

**Adding candidates to this letter of solidarity is NOT  considered an endorsement.  The Badass Teachers Association will only engage in national election endorsements through the guidance of our NEA BAT Caucus.  We will not be endorsing at the state or local level.   

Badass Teachers Association:

Is Co-Opted Opt Out Lurking in Your State? – Save Maine Schools

Is Co-Opted Opt Out Lurking in Your State? – Save Maine Schools:

Is Co-Opted Opt Out Lurking in Your State?

Lisa Nielsen, author of the blog “The Innovative Educator,” hopes that technology will mean the end of teaching as we know it.

“Why deny that the traditional role of the teacher is needed less and less? Technology can do much of what teachers do and better….That teachers have intimate relationships with their students and learning is customized is a fantasy.”

Nielsen has been featured on the blog of Tom Vander Ark, the digital learning guru who has been pushing online learning for nearly two decades and was instrumental in the development of the Ten Elements of High Quality Digital Learning, now a key feature ofALEC’s state report cards.

“The explosion of information and interactivity should have been an educational game-changer….but the game has been very slow to change,” Nielsen laments, just as Vander Ark did in this article.

Nielsen, now Director of Digital Engagement at the New York City Department of Education, also showcases Vander Ark’s work on her Is Co-Opted Opt Out Lurking in Your State? – Save Maine Schools:

Do Schools Segregate Black Kids By Putting Them in Special Ed. Classes? » Your Black Education

Do Schools Segregate Black Kids By Putting Them in Special Ed. Classes? » Your Black Education » Resources for Parents and Educators:

Do Schools Segregate Black Kids By Putting Them in Special Ed. Classes?

For years, Black parents have been suspicious of schools and staff who try to place their children in special education programs, with much of the Black community believing that placement in a special education classroom is a mechanism for Black kids to be mislabeled because of “problem behavior.” However a new study reveals that Black children may actually be under-served by special education programs.

Black children are 1.4 times more likely than their peers to wind up in a special education program, but researchers Paul L. Morgan and George Farkas are saying that Black children actually need more help than what they are getting, largely due to the fact that the deck is stacked against them because of racism, low socioeconomic status and school systems that are geared towards not adequately recognizing and addressing the needs of Black children.

In a New York Times editorial, Farkas states, “Black children face double jeopardy when it comes to succeeding in school. They are far more likely to be exposed to gestational, environmental, and economic risk factors that often result in disabilities. Yet Black children are less likely to be told they have disabilities, and to be treated for them, than otherwise similar white children.”

Farkas and Morgan reviewed the things that contribute to the odds not being in Black children’s favor when it comes to education. They found that approximately 65 percent of Black children “live in families with incomes below 200 percent of the poverty line” compared to around 30 percent of white children. “From 1985 to 2000, about 80 percent of Black children grew up in highly disadvantaged neighborhoods characterized by widespread unemployment, racial segregation, poverty, single-parent households, and welfare.”

In addition, “36 percent of inner-city Black children have elevated levels of lead in their blood. The figure of suburban white children is only 4 percent. Black children are about twice as likely to be born prematurely and three times more likely to suffer from fetal alcohol syndrome.” Farkas and Morgan point out, “The last thing we need is to compound these widespread disparities in disability diagnosis and treatment by making school officials reluctant to refer Black children for special-education eligibility evaluations out of fear of being labeled racially biased.”

Howard University professor Ivory Toldson feels that the study does not take the history of special education into account. “Special education is a system that too often offers a substandard curriculum to students whoDo Schools Segregate Black Kids By Putting Them in Special Ed. Classes? » Your Black Education » Resources for Parents and Educators: